Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-07-16
Several Secular Interpretations of
Scripture.
JAMES MILLER.

FRosTBURG, Mp, July IL, 1887
To the MINING JOURNAL.
In the last issue of your paper l find q let
ter on "Amusements, " etc. the apparent pur-
port of which is to show the antagonism of
church dogmas to amusements outside the
church on the part of christians.
As zone of the Club" trust you will grant
space for some words on the subject.
In quoting from authorities l begin with
Rev. j. A. Whitaker, who says at the outset :
The work of the christian church in the
world, out OF which it is called, is definite
one, namely-to bear witness to Christ.
We understand that the christian church is
called "out of the world" then why cannot
they stay "oMt" and let clubs, amusements,
etc., alone, for Mr.. W. says also that 'the
church is not, therefore, to reform men, 1t
would appear that the church is in a bad
strait as to the proper course to pursue. 1t is
not here to ''relorm men" yet it insists upon
what should or should not be done by them
to ''bear witness to Christ"
Ifyou look at the world to-day-in and out
of the church-you will readily perceive, as
Mr.. w. says, that imam by nature is a fool :"
and that is what a great many people think
when they gaze upon the multitudes of differ
ent denominations and their forms of worship
IN the church and their conduct ont of it.
am led to believe that it is "ethical cul-
ture" that improves the church and world.
Look at the church, for instance. There was
time when worship "under your own fig
tree" was thought to be the acme of liberty.
Now there are are so many fig trees that
one is afraid he might worship under
the one of forbidden fruit; so, to be safe, he
comes 'out from among the ungodly" and
joins club, in which literature, games and
recreation are the forms of worship ON week
days. On the Sabbath (the only day par
ticularly set aside to be kept holy you can
worship according to conscience. Therefore,
would it not be proper to dol Christ said on
the Mount:
And when thou prayest thou shalt not be
as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and in the corner
of the streets, that they may be seen of
men. Verify, l say unto you they have their
reward; but when thou prayest enter into
thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward
you openly. Acts vi, Sc.
One worshipping, as instructed, these days
is not characterized as "a christian" You
must belong to some denomination, and be
regular contributor to the box, thereby to
the happiness of the minister. 1 do not wish
to be understood as an enemy of the church,
but as a friend ofamusements and recreation.
l now take up the different amusements
mentioned as going on in this "God- -forsaken
Frostburg" Of fourteen or more churches,
etc.
When one is united with allowed another'
in the holy bonds of matrimony, if it were
obligatory for statistical information to ask
show this good state of affairs came to pass p"
how many could say 1--WE first met in
church ~ believe you will find the most
will say-"we caught on at the picnic, ball,
or fair" Thus, you will see, the moral and
social benefit is greater than to be found in
the churches alone. These amusements are
the fountain head of life, liberty and even
religion.
son with the dance let joy be unconfned."
byron.
Who can better entertain his or her COM
pany in the parlor than with games? Docs any
one enjoy themselves merely in reading the
Scriptures? "1e's armed without that's in
nocent within."-Pope. Indulgence in
games does not necessarily imply gambling.
A church has picnic or fair, with all sorts of
games, that's ''for the glory of God" But
because club desires to amuse its members
in that way it is unchristain. That is as
much as to say-you can sanction anything
that IS done in and for the church. "Ne
'front.' crede.''
Drinking is not matter in which the club
is interested Yetit is supposed from articles
written, that it will lead to that evil. If one
feels like drinking, that is his own affair." as
''the church is not here to reform men,"
Why do we find the church so deeply engaged
in the destruction of this evil when we are
assured that sit is not what enters the mouth
that defileth man, but what cometh out ?'
The club, while placing no restrictions upon
the natural liberty of its members, cannot
justly be styled the patron of intoxication.
Temperance in all things''-dancing, drink
ing, religion, or anything else, should be the
polestar of mankind. 1 am not posing as
temperance lecturer, but we have laws to pre-
vent wife beating, profane language, or any
misdemeanor resulting from intoxication
We allow the church the right to advocate
sobriety, christianity, fanaticism-whatever
it pleases, but it should also be temperate in
all things"
THE course Of nature is the art of God"
Young.
But the ''tdal wave of recreation and
amusement is spreading among the intelli-
gent classes until we find the Young Mems
| Christian Association advocating them. The
most eminent men in the world are promo
ters of social organizations for recreative
purposes.
How well it would be if the church "firs
cast The mote out Of its own eye before that o.
| its brother" l do not hold the work of the
| Create uplo ridieule because of the acts of {